Call for fight against child abuse in TT

During the launch of the Akiel Chambers Memorial Trust Fund at the TTCADV’s office yesterday (May 17), executive member from the Coalition for the Rights of the Child and YMCA’s youth programme, Gregory Sloane-Seale, said the idea of a registry was introduced in 1999 and was presented to the Government, which did nothing to implement it. The childrens’ registry would allow authorities to gather information on children who suffer from abuse, HIV and neglect.

Sloane-Seale criticised the Ministry of Social Services for not having the proper resources or staff to deal with child abuse. "The Government needs to allocate money into social services so children can receive the professional help they need. There are many ‘Akiel Chambers’ living a life of child sexual abuse, which should not be tolerated. It is hard to believe that after seven years, there has been no conviction or move to find the perpetrator," said Sloane-Seale.

The Akiel Chambers Memorial Trust Fund is being set up to keep Akiel’s memory alive, and to continue the resolution of the case. Akiel Chambers’ aunt, Valerie Pascall, was invited to the launch, but declined the invitation at the last minute, as Newsday learnt that she would have had trouble coping with the situation. There were no photographs of Akiel Chambers at the launch. Through the sale of tickets for the premier benefit of Star Wars III at MovieTowne, $20,000 has been raised so far.

Persons wishing to contribute to the fund can make a deposit at a Republic Bank branch to account number 18-045-780-5001.